Galedin Veterinary- Livestock Services

29/08/2024

Our September 2024 newsletter is now available. Click the link to read.

26/08/2024

All set up and ready for the day at Glendale Show. You’ll find us in the catering section next to The Sheep Show and the Pimms 🌞🐏

23/08/2024

22/08/2024

⚠️ Disease Alert ⚠️

With the wetter harvest there are two fungal infections of grain that can cause serious illness in humans and livestock which we may see more of.

We are asking you to be be aware.

Ergot is a hard black mass in place of a grain. In a feed mill this should be excluded from feeds so the risk is highest from grain retained on farm as stock feed. It can cause lameness, seizures, and death amongst other symptoms.

Fusarium can be seen as a pink grain once harvested or white heads in a standing crop. Fusarium releases mycotoxins reducing appetite and damaging the immune system.

See AHDB release for more info:

Livestock farmers in the UK are being encouraged to be familiar with how to spot for signs of ergot and fusarium, as there could be an increased presence of the two types of fungi in grain harvested this summer.

19/08/2024

Three ways to minimise toxo risk:

🐈Restrict cat access to water and feeding areas, particularly where pregnant ewes are housed.

🐁Implement effective rodent control using healthy, dewormed cats.

🐦Ensure comprehensive prevention of infectious causes of abortion by covering all feed and deterring wild birds from gaining access.

Concerned about the health of your flock?
Get in touch with the team and we can talk through any concerns and help put a plan in place.

14/08/2024

It’s tup testing time! Book in with us now to get your tups tested to ensure they’re in the best condition ahead of putting them with your ewes.

What’s included?
🐏 Ram MOT – toes, teeth and testicles
🔬 Semen sample analysis

Getting tups tested in good time for the breeding season can ensure you have enough time to source replacements if any issues are identified. You can also discuss optimal nutrition with your vet on the run up to a busy time of year for your tups.

Contact the practice to book in.

07/08/2024

06/08/2024

New Forest Eye 🐮

AKA Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis is a contagious disease that spreads rapidly in the summer months, usually within youngstock. It’s caused by Moraxella bovis, of which nuisance flies can act as a vector.

In most cases, there will be tear staining of the face, pain associated with sunlight which can disrupt grazing patterns, pus and matting of the eyelids. If both eyes are affected then it can lead to temporary blindness.

Prompt treatment, including pain relief, is essential, but speak to your vet first as other things can look the same such as foreign body in the conjunctival sac (grass awns), bovine iritis and IBR.

In some cases, M. Bovis will be brought in with new stock, so always isolate or manage as one group away from the main herd. Fly control measures are never absolute, so it’s best to be vigilant and consistently check stock.

02/08/2024

Guidelines for preparation of vasectomised rams and using them in your flock.

🐑 Vasectomised, teaser rams can be used to bring forward your lambing by one to two weeks
○ Teasers will significantly tighten up your lambing period if used correctly
○ Teasers will not be sufficient on their own to give early January lambings

🐑 Vasectomised rams can be prepared either at the surgery (preferred) or on farm.

🐑 Rams to be made into teasers must be sexually mature and have good libido and good feet
○ Shearlings generally give the best results
○ Teasers should also be of the same health status as your flock

🐑 Rams should be starved for 24 hours before surgery.

🐑 Surgery can be done under sedation and local anaesthesia or under a more general anaesthesia.

🐑 Teasers should be left a minimum of 6 weeks after surgery before putting with the ewes to minimise the chance of any viable s***m being present.

🐑 To give optimal results and the best effect, ewes to be teased should have had no sight or smell of rams for at least 3 weeks before teasing

Teased ewes will have 2 peaks of synchronised oestrus activity 18 and 26 days after the vasectomised rams are introduced and this will lead to a high percentage of ewes lambing over the first 7 days with no lambings for approximately 1 week and then the remainder of the flock lambing over the next 10 days or so.

1 fertile tup is needed per 25-30 ewes so it is important to make sure that you have that ram power to cope with a teased flock.

It is also important to plan ahead and make sure that there is sufficient facility and labour to manage a concentrated lambing period.

Although very rare, there have been reports of re-canalisation over time. Any problems can be avoided by semen testing the teaser ram/s before each season.

01/08/2024

Our August 2024 newsletter is now available. Click the link to read.

29/07/2024

⚠ Let's STOP Summer Mastitis from striking!

Early treatment is crucial, but prevention is best!

🐮 Use fly control like pour-on or insecticide tags.
🐮 Avoid grazing near hedges and shrubs (fly havens!).
🐮 Consider teat sealants for heifers.

If you suspect summer mastitis, contact our team ASAP!

27/07/2024

We're at the Border Union Agricultural Show! Come and see us today! 🐴🐑🐂

26/07/2024

We're at the Border Union Agricultural Show! Come and see us ⭐

Check out lejog_awareness2024’s video.

25/07/2024

🐮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙘 𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜🐮

Recently, some of our farm team joined MSD Animal Health for some training in thoracic ultrasound.

During the training, they honed their skills in performing thoracic ultrasound on dairy calves to assess lung damage caused by pneumonia.

This technique opens the possibility of heifer replacement selection post-weaning, guiding treatment decisions based on lung damage in individual pneumonia cases, and even optimising calf rearing systems by grouping calves based on lung scan results.

💡 We're thrilled to announce that we're offering thoracic ultrasound as a service, thanks to our trained vet techs and veterinarians. Get in touch for more info!

22/07/2024

⚠️ Danger's all around for our livestock! ⚠️

A fresh reminder about poisonous plants at grazing this summer as grass might become scarce, it can lead some animals to search elsewhere for food. We recap the naturally found plants at grazing, but it's also worth being vigilant about garden trimmings.

Garden waste that is thrown into fields which could contain Rhododendron an Azalea bush cause dramatic vomiting and death, with the inquisitive nature of heifers making them particularly at risk. It's worth familiarising yourself with these plants, putting on some gloves and walking up the fields (particularly the margins) to pull them up.

19/07/2024

⚠️ Sheep Sab: What to look out for 👀

Itchy sheep and wool loss could be signs of lice and sheep scab. Don't wait! Early action is key. Talk to your farm vet team today! They can diagnose the problem and recommend the best course of treatment to get your sheep healthy again.

If you have any questions, please speak to one of our team today.

15/07/2024

09/07/2024

You wait forever for one cow foot fact and eight come at once 🐮

Fewer Fingers, More Toes: Cows stand on just two "toes" per foot, kind of like walking on tiptoes! These toes are like our middle and ring fingers, with the dewclaws representing our index and middle fingers. Thumbs? Cows lost those in the evolutionary shuffle.

Weighty Responsibility: Imagine carrying over 165kg (front legs) and 135kg (back legs) on your tiptoes! That's the weight a typical 600kg cow supports on each slender leg.

Tiptoe Walkers: Cows are true tiptoe walkers, with their hooves (like our fingernails) taking the brunt of their weight.

Hidden Comfort: Recently discovered, cows have a built-in shock absorber! A fatty pad called a digital cushion sits between their hoof and inner foot, acting like a comfy insole.

Fast-Growing Floors: The horn that makes up a cow's hoof grows continuously from the "quick" (like our nailbed) at an impressive rate of 5mm per month!

Calving Curveballs: When a cow gives birth, a hormone shift actually causes the bones in its feet to sink slightly.

Lameness Leaves a Mark: Repeated foot problems can permanently alter the structure of a cow's foot, highlighting the importance of keeping them healthy!

Trimming Talk: For optimal cow health, proper hoof trimming is key! Aim for a length of 85mm for dairy cow toes, not 75mm, to avoid over-trimming and potential discomfort.

04/07/2024

Nominations are now open!

Do you know someone who connects with the industry and the public?
Do you or someone you know inspire others?
Do you or someone you know share their experience and knowledge?

Why not nominate yourself or them for the Dairy Industry Woman of the Year Award?

Voting closes on 12th July, so please visit their website for more information or to make a nomination!

https://www.womenindairy.co.uk/award

Dairy Industry Woman of the Year Award

02/07/2024

Our July 2024 newsletter is now available. Click the link to read.

27/06/2024

We’re looking for accommodation for our new vet Sara who's starting at the beginning August. Sara is coming to work out of our Duns branch to cover Kirsty's maternity leave.

If knows of or has anything available please call Alison at Duns 01361 883742. Thanks🙂

17/06/2024

💉New service Announcement💉

This new cost saving service will be available to all our clients.

Please contact Jennifer on;
[email protected]
Or 01896753759

12/06/2024

⚠️ Parasite Warning ⚠️
Three separate cases of nematodirus have been confirmed in the Scottish Borders this week. This is the first confirmed deaths this year. Please be vigilant. Look out for scour, ill thrift and general lethargy.

Contact your vet to discuss any concerns.

06/06/2024

Congratulations to Ian Murray who won our Whisky and sweets prize yesterday at Scotsheep.
Ian’s name was drawn out of a box of people who answered all our questions correctly 🏆

For those interested our questions were;

Q1. How long after a WHITE wormer should you preform a drench check?
A1. 14 days

Q2. What is the sheep meat withdrawal period of Alamycin LA?
A2. 24 days

Q3. Which wormer is NOT compatible with footvax?
A3. Cydectin 1%

05/06/2024

Come and see us at Scotsheep today. Join us for a cuppa and a chat, and there’s a wee competition with whisky to be won! 🐑

03/06/2024

Our June 2024 newsletter is now available. Click the link to read.

31/05/2024

Proud to support our colleagues as they take on this amazing challenge in memory of our dearly missed friend and colleague Kirsty Miller.

Good luck team! ❤

29/05/2024

🎟️ WIN 2 TICKETS 🎟️

To be in with a chance of winning two tickets for this years Scotsheep at Aikengall farm.
1. Like this post
2. Share with your friends
3. Follow our page (We’re on Instagram now too📸)

Winner will be announced on Monday the 3rd of May.

P.S. Don’t forgot to come visit us at our stand 🐑